Pubdate: Fri, 21 Jul 2006 Source: Weyburn This Week (CN SN) Copyright: 2006 Weyburn This Week Contact: http://www.weyburnthisweek.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2471 Author: Jen Andrews Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) THE TRUTH ABOUT MARIJUANA This article is not intended as a scare tactic, rather a truthful look at marijuana and it's effects on the human body. The Weyburn Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (WECADA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the impact of chemical dependency on the family and community. In 1995 and 2005, they conducted surveys of adolescents to determine their attitudes about alcohol and drug abuse in Weyburn. The following are statements from the survey's findings. In 2005 over 30 per cent of all students reported having tried drugs. Marijuana is identified as the drug used most often (by 70 per cent of respondents) first by admitted drug users, both males and females. The most often used drugs in order of admitted use by the entire population are cannabis, tobacco, magic mushrooms, cocaine, tranquilizers, amphetamines, LSD, and inhalants. I repeat, marijuana is smoked first more often than cigarettes. Eighty-five per cent of admitted drug users have first used drugs by the age of 16. Over 24 per cent of drug users in 1995 admitted doing so before the age of 14. Ten years ago the numbers were different. In The truth about marijuana 1995, tobacco was identified as the drug used most often first by admitted drug users, with only 30 per cent of respondents trying marijuana first. Marijuana, also known as Hashish, pot, ganga, whacky baccy, hash, grass, blow, puff, weed, skunk, draw, smoke, spliff, and joint, is currently 500 per cent more powerful now than it was 10 years ago, therefore the dangers of smoking marijuana now are much more serious than they were in the 1960's. Marijuana smoke causes cancer more than cigarette smoke. In fact, because marijuana smokers try to hold the smoke in their lungs as long as possible, one marijuana cigarette can be as damaging to the lungs as four tobacco cigarettes. The main mindalterting ingredient in marijuana is THC (delta- 9 tetrahydrocannabinol). In 1974, the THC content in a joint averaged less than one per cent. This rose to four per cent by 1994, with the popular sinsemilla joint ranging from 7.5 per cent to 24 per cent of THC. Marijuana is called a "gateway" drug, because it often leads to subsequent use of even harsher drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and crystal meth. The dangers of marijuana include: impaired perception, diminished short-term memory, loss of concentration and coordination, impaired judgment, increased risk of accidents, loss of motivation, diminished inhibitions, anxiety, panic attacks, paranoia, hallucinations, damage to respiratory systems, damage to reproductive organs, damage to immune system, increased risk of cancer, and psychological dependency. Because marijuana affects memory, judgment and perception, the drug can make you mess up in school, in sports or clubs, or with your friends. If you're high on marijuana, you are more likely to make mistakes that could embarass or even hurt you. If you use marijuana a lot, you could start to lose interest in how you look and how you're getting along in school or work. Athletes could find their performace is off; timing, movements, and coordination are all affected by THC. Also, since marijuana can affect judgment and decisionmaking, its use can lead to risky sexual behaviour, resulting in exposure to STD's like AIDS. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman